Dared to Resist Both Mongol Khannate & Delhi Sultanate –
Sri Jyoishman Sarkar
Purushottama
|
Madhusūdana alias
Madhumathana
|
Vasudeva
|
Damodara
|
Dasaratha [20]
12-13 th Century
The first three rulers are known from the Chittagong copperplate inscription of Damodaradeva dated Saka era1165.
According to Purnachandra Devavarma, author of ‘History of Chittagong’, Damodar Deva extended his empire from Chittagong Tripura to Srihatta Manipur.[6]
Damodar Deb
Raja Damodar Dev, the son of Raja Madhusudan Dev, was the fourth Nripati of the Deva dynasty. Paramsaura Bangadhip Gaudeswara ruled Samatat and Chittagong as a vassal of Vishwarup Sen. Much detailed information about his military victories is available from the Pakamora copperplate given by Mahishi Kandarpadevi of King Dasaratha found in the Tripura-Chittagram region. A total of three copperplates of King Damodar Dev have been found in this Tripura-Chittagong region. They indicate that he ascended the throne around 1231 AD and ruled till 1255.
He assumed the title“Ariraj-Chanur-Madhava-Sakal-Bhupati-Chakravarti”. According to the Comilla inscriptions, his kingdom extended over the Comilla-Noakhali-Chittagong region of modern Bangladesh.[2][6]
The Bhagavata Vishnuchakra of the Pakamora copperplate has the following Bengali inscription – He is the ‘Sudarshana’dhari’ Vishnupadadhanya Devanvaya Kulakamal Nripati Damodar, who completed the Gaudemahotsava by redeeming the honor of Gaudesh.(“খ্যাতো গৌড়মহীমহোৎসবময়ং চক্রে পুনশ্চ শ্রিয়া”)।[14]
King Damodar Dev led the Sena army of Vikrampur and reconquered Gaur. This has been mentioned earlier. And information in its favor is also available in Tripura’s History (Rajmala). Where it is said that around 1240, the Sen dynasty reconquered Gaur Pradesh.[2][1]
Dasarath Dev Danuj Rai
King Damodardeva’s son and the fifth descendant of the Deva dynasty was Parameswara Parambhattarak Maharajadhiraja Arirajadanujmadhav Dasaratha Dev, who is more famous as Danuj Raya( Rai-e – Bangala). Kulacharya Harimishra’s Kulkarika and Abul Fazal’s ‘Ain-e-Akbari’ record the valor Danuj Rai.[8][1]
As a vassal of Gaudeshwar Paramsaugata Madhusena, Danuj Raya invaded Gaur in 1272 AD and conquered Gaur by defeating and killing Sher Khan, the governor of the Delhi Sultanate. Danuj Raya’s Adabari copper plate mentions that Maharaja Dasarathadev Vaikuntha Adhiswara to take over the kingdom of Gaur through the grace of Lord Narayana. was able In 1281 after the victory of Maharaja Dasaratha Dev in Vikrampur, this copper rule was given from the capital. The Adabari copperplate enshrines Narayanamurthy in four-armed yoga posture with conch-chakra-mace-lotus. Mentioned in the Copper Rule – (“ইহ-খলু বিক্রমপুর সমাবাসিত শ্রীমৎ বিজয় স্কন্ধাবারাৎ শ্রীমন্নারায়ণ চরণকৃপা-প্রসাদমাসাদিত গৌড় রাজ্য অশ্বপতি গজপতি নরপতি রাজত্রয়াধিপতি দেবান্বয় কমলবিকাশভাস্কর সোমবংশ প্রদীপপ্রতিপন্ন কর্ণসত্যব্রত গাঙ্গেয় শরণাগত বজ্রপন্থর পরমেশ্বর পরমভট্টারক মহারাজাধিরাজ অরিরাজদনুজমাধব শ্রীমদ্দশরথদেব পাদা- বিজয়িন:”)
[2]
At this time, the political scenario of East Bengal became very complicated. It is known from the Buddhist records of the Tibetan lama Taranatha that after the death of Paramsaugata Madhusena, an extreme brotherly conflict began between his two sons, Labasena and Buddhasena, over the throne. Dhimantasena (Karthik), another Sen dynasty king of Savar, also came to occupy the throne of Vikrampur. Suvarnagram was seized by the governor of Lucknow, Mughisuddin Tughral, on the occasion of this invasion of the Sen dynasty.
The Sen dynasty fell under the attack of Ranbir Sen from the north and Raja Danuj Rai from the south.Randhir Sen continued to rule the Brahmaputra delta and Savar region as a vassal of the Sultan.
ধীমন্তপুত্রো রণধীরসেনঃ
সংগ্রামজেতা ইব কার্ত্তিকেয়ঃ ।
হিমালয়ব্যাপ্ত দেশান্বিজিত্য
সারপুৰ্য্যামবসৎ প্রবীরঃ ॥[10]
The Sena dynasty fell under the attack of Randhirsen from the north and King Danuj Raya from the south. [8] As mentioned in the Pakamora Pattoli, as a result of the folly of the previous kings, the enemy was invited to Bengal,(Then Bangal means South East Bengal)
পূর্বাং কুলমচেতনস্থ নৃপতেদোষাৎ পরৈরধিতৈ-
রাক্রান্তং বিকলান্তদেব সকলা লোকা ওয়াদাকুল’:
প্রমান্য মহীপতিশিরখো দেবো চা-দেবোপমো
যৎপাদ প্রণতাগুয়-প্রযুদিতা ধর্মার্থ-কামোহিতাঃ ।[14]
The subjects were disturbed and fearful, but King Danujmadhav again provided security to the subjects and prospered them in matters of religion, money and life. Confirmed. It is found in the words of ancient Kulacharya Harimisra in Devavanja Kulagrantha,
(“প্রাদুরভবৎ ধর্মাত্মা সেনবংশাদনন্তবম্ ।
দনৌজামাধব: সর্ব্ব ভূপৈ: সেব্যপদাম্বুজম ।।”)[9][18]
Battle with Mongols & Relations of Dasarath Dev & Arakan
Marcopolo’s account contains references of Mongol invasion against the Ming dynasty in Bengal and Burma.
A description of Mongol campaigns is available around 1276.In the war, 12,000 horsemen fought against 2,000 Bengalis and Ming dynasty elephants. The name of the king of Bangal is not mentioned here. But it is very easy to guess that the king of this Bengal Danuj Roy Dasarath Dev is very likely. Which is very possible because the alliance with the dynasty of Arakan reached its peak during this period.
The outcome of this battle remains inconclusive as further details are not available. Although Marco Polo called Kublai Khan the winner.[11] This may also be the reason for the lunar sign in the Dasaratha Dev copper plate.
That war is also mantioned in the Burmese history.Dasarath Dev Danuj rai is mentioned as Nga-pu-kin ( corruption of Danuj ) in Burmese history . Shan rulers of Burma took part in the mongol side in the war. [19]
Mongols’ interest in Lakhnauti and dispatch of Mongol expedition from Tibet for Lakhnauti
The Mongol rulers were well aware of the location and prosperity of the Bengal Peninsula. They could not enter because of the natural barrier of the Himalayas. But they did not stop for that. It was during this time that they would send expeditions to find access roads to the region. One such Mongol expedition crossed the Himalayas and appeared at ‘Lucknowti’. Name of their leader was Mangu Khan.
A number of Mongol warriors appeared on the outskirts of Lakhnauti in March 1245 AD( or may be arround 1279 ) , when ‘Tughral Tughan Khan’ was the ruler of Gaur. The historian ‘Minhaj-us-Siraj’ was present in that city. In this context, he wrote in his famous historical book ‘Tabqat-e-Nasiri’, in the month of Shawwal 642 AH (March 1245 AD), Chenghis Khan’s infidels arrived at the city gates of Lakhnauti.” But why and by what route did they come to Bengal and why did they return empty-handed?
[12.]
Bangal-Delhi Treaty (1281 AD): Sultan Ghiyasuddin Balban of Delhi stood up and saluted Danuj Rai, the emperor of Bengal:-
Written by Muslim historian Ziauddin Barani, Tarikh-e-Firozshahi (تاریخ فیروزشاهی) tells about the historical treaty between Sultan-e-Delleh Ghiyasuddin Balban and the Bengal emperor Debanbaykulpradip Maharaj Dasharathdev. In 1280 AD, the Mamluk governor of Bihar-Lakhnauti, Mughisuddin Tughral, declared rebellion against the Sultan of Delhi.[17]
Information on this is also available from Kulkarika.
তস্মাভূতনয়ঃ প্রচণ্ড বিনয়ঃ শ্রীঃকশবাখ্যঃ স্বয়ং ।
দেশঞ্চাপি বিহায় বঙ্গমগমং ভীতত্ত্বরস্কাং ততঃ।
তন্ত্রাসীং দনুজারিমাধবঃ নৃপঃতং কেশব ভূপতি ।
সৈন্যৈঃ বিপ্রগণৈঃ পিতামহক্বতেন রণৈশ্চ যুক্ত গতঃ৷
[17]
Looking at the name Dhanujarimadhav, many consider him to be the ancestor of the third deva dynasty. However, there is no solid evidence in this regard.
Ghiyasuddin Balban needed the help of Danuj Ray, the Emperor of Bengal, to surround Tughral from both sides. [16] Incidentally, this rebel Tughral was an enemy of both Balban and Danuj, so Balban decided to make a treaty with King Danuj Ray by remembering the motto ‘Enemy’s enemy’s friend’.[1]
Sultan Ghiyasuddin Balban of Delhi came to Bengal and asked to meet Dasarathdev Danuj Roy, Emperor of Bikrampur and sought friendship. During this interview, the Sultan faced a dilemma in Delhi – the mighty Bengal Raj Danuj Ray stipulated that in order to receive his interview, the Sultan of Delhi should stand up before him and salute him, after which the Emperor of Bengal would be able to participate in the treaty. In this condition, Balban gets into trouble. It is not acceptable for the Sultan of Delhi to show respect to the infidel king of Bengal in this way, while the treaty would not be possible if Danuj Ray, the emperor of Bengal, was not shown respect.[14]
Malik Ikhtiyaruddin Nektars, the commander in charge of the campaign against Tughral, finally cleared the way to meet Bangadhip in a safe way. He advised that the Sultan would already be sitting in the court with a falcon in his hand. Then when Bangaraj Danujmadhav comes, the Sultan will stand up and fly the falcon. Everyone will think that the Sultan stood up when the bird flew. Danuj Roy will be greeted by the Sultan. The sage received a reward from the Sultan for this.
Sultan Balban therefore followed that path. There was no longer any obstacle to the conclusion of the treaty of alliance. There are not many examples of the Sultan of Delhi being forced to stand up to salute in honor of a Hindu martyr. Renowned historian Dr. Rameshchandra Majumdar in the sixth volume of his book ‘The Delhi Sultanate’ mentioned
–“The Sultan sat on the throne with a falcon on his hand, and on the approach of Rai Danuj stood up and let the falcon go, so that the people would surmise that he left the throne only to set the bird in motion. The Muslim honour was saved by playing a trick upon the unsuspecting Hindu king.”
The fact that such an incident was remembered and recorded. nearly two hundred years later, by an eminent Muslim historian, speaks volumes about the way in which a Muslim Sultan was apt to regard even an independent Hindu king, not to speak of lesser potentates or individuals. ” [13]
Battle of Diyar-i-Bangalah:
Despite Sultan Balban’s agreement with King Danuj Ray, Balban had his eye on Danuj’s empire. He then ordered his son and commander Nasiruddin Bogra Khan to conquer “Diyar-e-Bangalah” (دیار بنگلا). But Raja Danuj Roy very easily defeated Bogra Khan and forced him to flee. As mentioned in Ziauddin Barani’s Tarikh-e-Firozshahi, Bogra Khan was unable to carry out the Sultan’s orders due to the resistance of Danujmadhav, the Rai (King) of Bengal.[14]
Victory of Suvarnagram (1294 AD)
In 1283, Mughisuddin Tughral, the governor of Bihar-Lakshmanauti, seized Suvarnagram, taking advantage of the Sen dynasty’s assassination during the South-East campaign. Maharaja Dhanujmadhav embarked on a divine mission to recover the magnificent city of Suvarnagram, the richest in East Bengal. In Bihar-Lucknowti, Shamsuddin Feroze Shah was ruling as the Governor of Delhi Sultanate. At that time, the conflict between Feroze Shah and Rukunuddin Kaus started over the authority of Bihar, which gradually took the shape of a civil war.
Raja Danuj Roy planned to rescue Sonargaon on the occasion of this conflict. In order to free Suvarnagram from the subjugation of the Delhi Sultanate, Maharaja Danujmadhav took the initiative to form a strong anti-Sultanate political alliance. In preparation for war with Delhi, he decided to ally with the neighboring state of Arakan. [18] Finally, King Danuj Ray of Bengal entered into an alliance with the then ruler of Arakan, Ming-Hette / (မင်းထက်)and declared war to the death against the Delhi Sultanate.[15]
In 1294, the combined destructive navies of Bengal and Arakan attacked the Sultanate camp of Sonargaon. On the southern border of the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta, the Bengal army built a defensive fortress on either side of Suvarnagram. General, Raza-thin-gyan,
of Arakan charged on Sonargaon.[19] In such a dire situation, the Sultanate army accepted defeat and the boundaries of the Delhi Sultanate were limited to the western bank of the Karatoa river.[15]
Fall of Sonargaon
Dasharathdeva later established a prosperous city called Chandradwip in the Barisal region,[19] which continued to exist as an independent Hindu state in East Bengal forever. Shamsuddin Feroze Shah and Bahadur Shah managed to recapture Sonargaon in 1317 by using all their forces. In 1318 AD Dasharathdev’s brother Raja Vikramaditya Dev shifted the capital to the southern part of the state boundary (Kachua-Barisal).[15]
● References:
1.History of Bikrampur , Jogendranath Gupta Volume I – Second Edition pp-321/322
2.শিলালিপি তাম্রশানাদি প্রসঙ্গ – দীনেশচন্দ্র সরকার
3.A CONSTITUTIONALE HISTORY OF TRIPURA by Dr. Jagadis Gan-Chaudhuri 64
4.Tripura-R Sharma 61,64,65
5.REZA, Mohammad Habib & BANDYOPADHYAY, Soumyen &
MOWLA, Azizul
Traces of Buddhist architecture in Gupta and post-Gupta
Bengal: evidence from inscriptions and literature pp-8
6. চট্টগ্রামের ইতিহাস-1st part- পূর্ণচন্দ্র দেব বর্মন তত্ত্বনিধি 30-37
7. পালসেন যুগের বংশানুচরিত – দীনেশচন্দ্র সরকার 23,24,187
8.Pravasi (Thirty-Seventh Part, Volume II). pp 655
9.বঙ্গের জাতীয় ইতিহাস, রাজন্য কান্ড- নগেন্দ্রনাথ বসু
10.ঢাকার ইতিহাস-যতীন্দ্রমোহন রায় দ্বিতীয় খন্ড 377
11. Travels of Marco Polo Henry Yule, Henri Cordier pp 174
12. Taokat e Nasiri Minhaj us Siraj 677
13. The Delhi Sultanate, History & Culture of the Indian People- RC Majumdar, Volume- 6
14.বাংলায় মুসলিম অধিকারের আদি পর্ব, সুখময় মুখোপাধ্যায় 136,137,138
15.গৌড়ের ইতিহাস- রজনীকান্ত চক্রবর্তী
16. পৃথিবীর ইতিহাস – চতুর্থ খণ্ড (দুর্গাদাস লাহিড়ী)- প্রাচীন বঙ্গের গৌরব বৈভব 239
17.History of Bengal বাঙলার ইতিহাস Prabhas Charan Sen.( প্রভাষ চন্দ্র সেন) pp 253-54
18.History of Vikrampur – Volume I – Jogindra nath Gupta pp 323,324,326,329
19. Burma Gazetteer: Akyab District Vol A”. p. 23.
20.History and Culture of the Indian People (11 vols).
